held up towards rear, pulled hard, some headway on outside over 1f out, weakened final furlong
pulled hard, chased leader, led over 1f out, ran on well
rearing in stalls, raced keenly tracking leaders on outside, weakened over 1f out
towards rear of mid-division, never on terms
mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, kept on into 2nd inside final furlong, outpaced into 3rd entering final 100 yards
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, weakened final 100 yards
slowly into stride, ran green in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, shaken up and strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd entering final 100 yards, not reach winner
mid-division, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, plugged on final furlong
chased leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
Zhukovsky wasn’t beaten far at Wolverhampton last month but is up against younger horses today and is conceding plenty of weight. NOTFORALONGTIME is penalised for winning at Chelmsford last time but Clive Cox’ colt landed the odds by a wide-margin on that occasion and is taken to confirm running with Astroman and go in again. The likes of Prince Percy, Indian Road and Giovanni Tiepolo have yet to threaten and it would be no surprise if the newcomer Makram gets involved as his dam is related to Group 1 winners Youmzain and Creachadoir.
Zhukovsky (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 1 1/4l behind Motawaafeq (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Notforalongtime 4-7fav (9-2) Tracked leader, edged left and led approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Chelmsford City 7f stks (4) pol in Dec beating Eevilynn Drew (9-6) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
Astroman 20-1 (9-2) Dwelt in touch, pushed along 2f out, headway inside final furlong, stayed on, 4th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Notforalongtime (9-2) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (4) pol in Dec.
Buzztothemoon 100-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 12, 36l behind Make It Rain (9-0) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Giovanni Tiepolo 25-1 (9-2) Keen raced wide in touch, ran wide into straight 2f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 10, 8l behind Harrison Point (9-2) at Lingfield 7f stks (4) pol in Dec.
Indian Road (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, weakened quickly and soon behind, last of 12, 12 1/2l behind Splendidly (9-5) at Newcastle 6f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Makram (IRE) Make Believe gelding out of Spontaneous.
Prince Percy 25-1 (9-3) Held up, pushed along and headway 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Odyssey Girl (9-5) at Lingfield 7f stks (5) pol in Nov.
The Cola Kid Lethal Force colt out of George's Gift.
Indian Star Indian Haven filly out of Piccostar.